A study of the attachment of radon daughter atoms to aerosol particles

Previous studies of the attachment of radon daughter atoms to aerosol particles in the atmospheric air have given varying results, a few of which did not conform to the diffusion theory developed byLassen andRau (1960). Our studies suggest that the radiolytic aerosols formed by gas-phase reactions in the presence of ionizing radiations interfere in the studies carried out with known aerosols. Radiolytic aerosols are formed spontaneously in the system, depending on the concentrations of aerosol-forming gases in the atmospheric air. It is shown that, under experimental conditions which suppressed the formation of radiolytic aerosols, the attachment rates of Ra-A atoms to aerosol particles in the range of 0.2 to 1.0 m in diameter agree with the diffusion theory developed byLassen andRau (1960). Such investigations of the interactions between atoms, molecules, ions, and aerosol particles are highly useful in atmospheric tracer studies.